Valve mechanism



Nov. l, 1932. E. F. LowEKE 1,885,121

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Feb, 2, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 1,- 1932. E; F. LCWEKE 1,885,121

y VALVE MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 2, 1929 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1932v UNITED-XSTATES- PATENT OFFICE ERWIN F. LOWEKE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HYDRAULIC BRAKE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA VALVE MECHANISM y Application led February 2, 1929. Serial No. 337,122.

My invention pertains to valves and is particularly desirable for use in hydraulic brake systems, although it is equally applicable to other types of mechanism.

' 5 In order to prevent air from entering the system at the wheel brake cyllnders it 1s desirable to maintain a higher than atmospheric pressure in the wheel brake cylinders and the fluid lines leading thereto. For this purpose a double acting valve is provided at the discharge-end of the cylinder allowing the fiuid to leave the cylinder freely but rcstraining its return to the cylinder to maintain a predetermined pressure 1n the wheel brake cylinders and fluid lines.

An object of the invention is to provide .an improved valve mechanism.

A further object is to provide a valve mechanism which is simple- 'in construction and effective in operation.

A further obfect is to provide a double acting valve mechanism consisting of relatively few parts.

A further object is to provide a .valve mechanism in which the parts are readily replaceable.

Other objects and advantages w1ll appear as the description proceeds. Referring to the drawings:

wheel brake cylinders 13. The master cylinder has a piston 14 reciprocably mounted therein. The piston comprises a face portion 15 adapted to carry a packing cup 16 50 and a rearwardly extending flange 17 spaced Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the mas-l uid reservoir 11master cylinder' 12 andv from the cylinder wall. The end of the rearwardly extending fiange 17"has a radial flange 18 which contacts with the cylinder wall to guide the piston in the cylinder,

forming an annular recess 19 around the 5* piston.

A ring 22 is retained in theend of the cylinder by a split ring 23 and is adapted to limit the rearward movement of the piston. The piston is provided with a socket 24 0 which engages a ball 25 of a plunger 26 by means of which the piston may be moved. Plunger 26 is provided at its opposite end with an annular ring 27 having an under cut shoulder 28. The end 29 of the plunger is threaded and is adapted to receive aV nut 32 having a similar vunder cut shoulder33.

Shoulders 28 and 33 are adapted to engage the annular beaded end of a boot 34 of rubber l or any other suitable material which sur- 7o rounds the plunger. The front end of the boot is formed Vinto a radial extending fiange 35 which is held against the cylinder by a ring 36. Ring 36 has a cylindrical portion 37 integral therewith and extending rearwardly, which is provided at its end with an annular bead 38. v

A collar 39 serves to retain the enlarged annular end of a second boot 42 retaining this end in firm engagement with the annular bead 38. The opposite end of boot-42 is secured to the nut 32 by a collar 43, the nut being proi vided with a suitable groove for receiving the enlarged annular end portion 44 of boot 42. Boot 42 may be made of any suitable flexible material which is not attacked by the mineral oils used for lubricating vehicles. A suitable material for this purpose is impregnated airplane cloth or leather. Boot` 42 thus serves to protect the flexible boot 34 from oils and dust 'and other matter which might,r be injurious thereto. Boot 42 is provided at its lower side with an aperture 45 connecting the interior of the boot with the atmosphere.

. The rearwardly extending flange 17 of the 95 piston is provided with anl aperture 46,- and the wall of cylinder 12 is provided with an aperture 47 leading into the space 48 which is Y in communication through a tube 49 with the iuid reservoir. Thus fluid from the reservoir 10.

. the space 1n the cylinder.

, flexible boot 34, enclosing the rear side of the piston.

passes through tube'49, space 48, the aperture 47 into the annular recess 19 of the piston and through passages 46 in the piston into the whichforms a fluid chamber The face of the piston is provided with a. plurality of passages 51 which extend linto During the forward movement of the piston these passages are covered by the packing cup 16 causing a fluid pressure to be produced in the master cylinder.

At the discharge end of the'cylinder is a valve comprising a resilient cup-shaped valve member 52 adapted to rest against the valve seat formed by the end of the cylinder wall. Surrounding the resilient member 52 is a cupshaped rigid valve member 53 having a radially extending annular flange 54. The outer edge of flange 54 is generally circular having a plurality of portions cut out along chords of the circle to provide spaces 50 for the free passage of fluid past the flange. A spring 55 is interposed between the piston and the valve resting at'one end against a washer 56 engaging the packing cup against the annular flange of the rigid valve member 53urging this member forward and yieldingly retaining against its seat. The yielding valve member 52 is provided with a plurality of apertures-- 57 and the rigid valve member 53 is provided with a central aperture 58.

As the piston 14 moves forwardly produc-l i ing a fluid pressure in the cylinder, fluid passes return to Iits normal position,

v through aperture 58`forcing the central portion of the yielding valve member 52 away from the rigid valve member and allowingr the'fluid to pass through apertures 57 to the wheel brake cylinders, as shown in Eig. 3, to apply the brakes.

` Plunger 26 is provided with a cylindrical bore 61 into which a connecting rod 62 pivotally attached to the end of pedal 63 pro- ]ect s. This construction causes the depression of the pedal'to produce a positive movement of the piston in its forward direction. However, `upon release of the pedal and its not be positively withdrawn but instead connectinglrod 62 will be withdrawn from plunger 26, t e retraction of the piston being caused by spring 5 5. During the retraction of the piston the valve in the endof the cylindex` wlllbe yieldingly vurged to its seat by the sprmg to maintain a positive pressure in the wheel brake cylinders and the fluid lines leadlng thereto. The fluid pressure from the wheel-brake cylinders and fluid lines will move the central portion of the resilient valve member to the position shown in Fig. 4,

closing aperture 58, and the valve upon a v suflicient pressure will be unseated allowing fluid to return to the cylinder. y

The amount of positive pressurein the wheel brake cylinders will depend upon the 16 and at the other endv the resilient member 52 the piston will.

relative sizes of the valve and the piston. Since the rearV side of the piston is subjected to atmospheric pressure, the valye maybe made of such a size as to maintama pressure of six gpunds above atmospheriepressure in the w eel brake cylinders.

Retraction of the piston produces a low pressure in the-master cylin er, ca packing cup-to `becomeunseated and alowllu1d from the rear side of the piston to pass through passages 51 into the master cylinder.

It will be noted thatait is impossible for a low pressure to be produced in the chamber formed by flexible boot 34 since any Vdepletion of the liquid therein will merely cause a contraction of the boot corresponding to the reduction in the volume of the boot y.

in a low pressure therein.

without resulting fluid chamber formed b Furthermore, the

lthe bootis constantly in communication wit -thefluid reservoir to supply add1t1onal fluid wheel brake cylinders after the piston is re-v tracted.c The excess fluid which is present in the ylinder may escape through a passage 64 in the upper wall of the cylinder lothe. -i

cated immediately in rontof the retracted position of the piston. Thus upon each application of the brakes an excess of fluid will be provided in the master cylinder, due to a low pressure therein. However, the valve at the exit of the cylinder and the boot at the rear sideof the pistonenclosing the other end of the cylinder effectively prevent the low pressure in the master cylinder from extending to any point at which there '1s a possibility of air being drawn into the brake system. v

Having described the nature and embodiments'of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is as follows: y

1. A double acting valve mechanism comrising a valve seat, a cup-shaped member liaving an aperture therein, a peripheral flange thereon, a yielding member 1n the cup- 4shaped member having an aperture laterally -spaced from the aperture in the :iup-shaped member, said yielding member being movable from the cup-shaped member to provide a passa' e through the valve 'and into contact with t e cup-shaped member to close thepassage through the valve,'and means'for maintainin said resilient memberfin engagement with t e valve seat.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a valve i seat and a port associated therewith, a yielding member having an aperture, a rigid inem ber provided with an aperture .laterally spaced from the aperture in the yielding member, and means adapted to engage the yieldable member with the valve seat, said apertures Dconstituting a passagewa for fluid to said port, the yielding and rigi members prising a Valve seat, a resilient member eni being movable from the valve 'seat as a unit to permit the ow of liquid around lthe valve.

3..A double acting valve mechanism comgageable With the valve seat, a rigid member engaging the periphery of the resilient member, the intermediate'portion of the resilient member being movable toward and away from the rigid member, said members having olset apertures, and a spring for yieldably en agngthe rigid member to urge the resi ient member to the Valve seat.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seat, a cup-shaped resilient member having a radially extending flange, .a similarly shaped rigid member surrounding the resilient member the members having offset apertures which are closed when the inner portions of the members are in contact and open when the v inner portions are in spaced relation, and a silient member engageable With said seat, and

a rigid member contacting with the periphl ery ofthe resilient member to engage the pespring for normally urging the members to- Ward the valve seat.V

5. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seat and a port associated therewith, a reriphery with said Aseat to close said port, `said members being normally contiguous and having o'fset apertures, said members adapted to be separated to provide a passage through the ,apertures to said port and in contact tof-close said apertures to permit said resilient memberto be movable from the valve seat to open said port.

6. A double acting valve unit comprising i a valve seat and a port associated with the Avalve seat, a Val/ve having a rigid-member and a resilient member, adjacent thereto,` said members being provided With offset a ertures, said members being separable by uid pressure to provide a passage through the apertures therein to the port in one direction, and spring means for urging the `valve against the valve seat to Aretard the passage of the fluid in the opposite direction'.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of January, 1929. v f ERWIN F, LOWEKE. 

